Vatican Radio - Pope Benedict XVI Announces His Resignation at End of Month
As a person of undefined faith, it’s not my place to advise the Catholic Church on the direction and type of man they should elect, but this could be a great opportunity to advance the modern world. I hope the new Pope can see women as equals and LBGT as people worthy of recognition as human beings like the rest of us. The Church could take the lead and advance a new age of religious enlightenment, or follow the current trend of fundamentalism which is separating us from science, common sense and each other.
… in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.
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